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Pacing Clin Electrophysiol 2022 May 18. Epub 2022 May 18.

Institut Clínic Cardiovascular (ICCV), Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.

Background: It is unknown whether His-Purkinje conduction system pacing (HPCSP), as either His bundle or left bundle branch pacing, could be an alternative to cardiac resynchronization therapy (BiVCRT) for patients with left ventricular dysfunction needing ventricular pacing due to atrioventricular block. The aim of the study is to compare the echocardiographic response and clinical improvement between HPCSP and BiVCRT.

Methods: Consecutive patients who successfully received HPCSP were compared with a historical cohort of BiVCRT patients. Read More

J Cardiol Cases 2022 May 30;25(5):304-307. Epub 2021 Dec 30.

Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Madras Medical Mission, Chennai, India.

Surgical septal myectomy is increasingly utilized for patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy who remain symptomatic despite maximum doses of medical therapy. Deep and extensive septal muscle resections may lead to iatrogenic ventricular septal defects that are detected on transesophageal echocardiography immediately after weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass and immediately corrected in the same surgery. However markedly thinned out ventricular septum after myectomy may be prone to late rupture from high left ventricular systolic pressures causing delayed detection of a ventricular septal defect when the patients present with new onset symptoms. Read More

J Cardiol Cases 2022 May 21;25(5):272-274. Epub 2021 Nov 21.

Second Department of Cardiology, Cardiac Thoracic and Vascular Department - Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy.

A 63-year-old man with hypertension and 3-vessel coronary artery disease previously treated with coronary artery bypass graft was admitted to our emergency room complaining of chest pain. He had undergone pacemaker implant 5 months before due to paroxysmal advanced atrioventricular block. Electrocardiography and troponin testing were unremarkable. Read More

Front Cardiovasc Med 2022 27;9:844626. Epub 2022 Apr 27.

Department of Cardiology, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.

Acute myocarditis is a rare but serious complication associated with mRNA-based coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination. In this article, four COVID-19 mRNA vaccination induced myocarditis cases managed at our tertiary Medical Center have been discussed. Three patients had typical myocarditis. Read More

Circ J 2022 May 14. Epub 2022 May 14.

Department of Cardiac Surgery, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center.

Background: This study aimed to elucidate the short-term surgical outcomes and hemodynamics of the Intuity valve compared to the standard bioprosthesis in Japanese patients.Methods and Results: Among the 307 consecutive patients who underwent aortic valve replacement (AVR) between February 2019 and March 2021, the Intuity valve was implanted in 95 patients (Intuity group) and a conventional stented bioprosthesis was implanted in 193 patients (conventional group). After propensity score matching, there was no significant difference in in-hospital mortality between the Intuity (n=2, 3%) and conventional groups (n=0, P=0. Read More

Int Heart J 2022 May 14. Epub 2022 May 14.

Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Kumamoto University School of Medicine.

An 83-year-old man suddenly lost consciousness, and his blood pressure dropped. Results of blood analysis were within normal range. A chest radiograph showed enlargement of the left mediastinum. Read More

Ann Emerg Med 2022 Jun;79(6):568-577

Department of Ultrasound, Taizhou Women and Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Taizhou, Zhejiang Province, China.

Heart Vessels 2022 May 14. Epub 2022 May 14.

Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Nippon Medical School, 1-1-5, Sendagi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8603, Japan.

Atrioventricular Block (AVB) is one of the common manifestations in cardiac sarcoidosis (CS). Although pacemaker implantation is generally recommended in patients with CS complicated by symptomatic AVB, some case reports have shown that they can be managed by steroid therapy without pacemaker implantation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of steroid therapy without pacemaker implantation in patients with CS complicated by symptomatic AVB. Read More

Curr Probl Cardiol 2022 May 11:101247. Epub 2022 May 11.

The University of Cape Town, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology; Groote Schuur Hospital, E17 Cardiac Clinic.

Background: There is a paucity of data regarding the aetiology of atrioventricular heart block (AVB) in young and middle-aged patients, particularly from low- and middle-income countries.

Objective: To determine the aetiology of AVB in patients ≤ 55 years treated with transvenous pacemakers in a low- or middle-income country.

Methods: We performed a retrospective review of all patients who received a transvenous pacemaker for newly diagnosed AVB from 01/01/2013 to 31/12/2020 at Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa. Read More

J Clin Med 2022 Apr 28;11(9). Epub 2022 Apr 28.

Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Heart Vascular and Stroke Institute, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul 06351, Korea.

Until recently, left bundle branch area pacing (LBBAp) has mostly been performed using lumen-less fixed screw leads. There are limited data on LBBAp with conventional style-driven extendable screw-in (SDES) leads, particularly data performed by operators with no previous experience with LBBAp procedures. In total, 42 consecutive patients undergoing LBBAp using SDES leads and newly designed delivery sheaths (LBBAp group) were compared with those treated with conventional right ventricular pacing (RVp) for atrioventricular block (RVp group, = 84) using propensity score matching (1:2 ratio). Read More

Heart Lung Circ 2022 May 10. Epub 2022 May 10.

Department of Cardiology, Western Health, Melbourne, Vic, Australia.

Background: Takotsubo syndrome (TTS), an acute and usually reversible condition, is associated with both tachy- and bradyarrhythmias. Such arrhythmias can be life-threatening, e.g. Read More

Heart Rhythm 2022 May 10. Epub 2022 May 10.

Division of Cardiology, Pauley Heart Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA.

Background: The reported success rate of His bundle pacing (HBP) in patients with infranodal atrioventricular (AV) conduction disease is only 52-76%. The success rate of left bundle branch area pacing (LBBAP) in this cohort is not well studied.

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility, safety, and electrophysiological characteristics of LBBAP in patients with AV conduction disease. Read More

Circ Genom Precis Med 2022 May 12:101161CIRCGEN121003464. Epub 2022 May 12.

Department of Pediatric Cardiology, CHRU Lille, France (A.H.).

Background: Congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (ccTGA) is a rare disease of unknown cause. We aimed to better understand familial recurrence patterns.

Methods: An international, multicentre, retrospective cohort study was conducted in 29 tertiary hospitals in 6 countries between 1990 and 2018, entailing investigation of 1043 unrelated ccTGA probands. Read More

J Infect Dev Ctries 2022 Apr 30;16(4):726-728. Epub 2022 Apr 30.

Department of Propaedeutic Pediatrics and Medical Genetics, Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University, Communal Noncommercial Enterprise of Lviv Regional Council Lviv Regional Children's Clinical Hospital "Ohmatdyt", Lviv, Ukraine.

Lyme disease is an infectious disease caused by bacteria of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (Bbsl) complex and is characterized by predominant lesions of the skin, cardiovascular system, nervous system and musculoskeletal system. We have described a clinical case of first-degree atrioventricular block in a 14-year-old boy caused by Lyme borreliosis. The disease started with the manifestations of cardiovascular system involvement. Read More

Clin Case Rep 2022 May 4;10(5):e05797. Epub 2022 May 4.

Department of Immunology School of Medicine Zanjan University of Medical Sciences Zanjan Iran.

A 65-year-old man became ill a few days after being vaccinated against the COVID-19 by the Sinopharm vaccine. Laboratory investigations, trans-thoracic echocardiography, and chest computed tomography scanning (CT-scan) retrieved normal results. The patient's electrocardiogram showed sinus rhythms with 2:1 AV-block and a narrow QRS complex. Read More

BMC Cardiovasc Disord 2022 May 10;22(1):206. Epub 2022 May 10.

Department of Cardiology, Kyorin University School of Medicine, 6-20-2 Shinkawa, Mitaka City, Tokyo, 181-8611, Japan.

Background: Simultaneous thrombosis in more than one coronary artery is an uncommon angiographic finding in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. It is difficult to identify using 12-lead electrocardiography and usually leads to cardiogenic shock and fatal outcomes, including sudden cardiac death. Therefore, immediate revascularization and adequate mechanical circulatory support are required. Read More

J Mol Cell Cardiol 2022 May 6;169:28-40. Epub 2022 May 6.

Center for Genetic Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States of America. Electronic address:

A premature truncation of MYBPHL in humans and a loss of Mybphl in mice is associated with dilated cardiomyopathy, atrial and ventricular arrhythmias, and atrial enlargement. MYBPHL encodes myosin binding protein H-like (MyBP-HL). Prior work in mice indirectly identified Mybphl expression in the atria and in small puncta throughout the ventricle. Read More

Ann Med Surg (Lond) 2022 Apr 29:103694. Epub 2022 Apr 29.

Department of Cardiology, CHR Citadelle Hospital, Liège, Belgium.

Introduction: Cardiovascular disorders have been extensively reported during COVID-19 illness, including arrhythmias such as atrioventricular conduction disturbances. To date, one case of transient heart block has been reported after COVID-19 vaccine.

Case Presentation: A 73 years-old woman presented with shortness of breath and fatigue 2 weeks after receiving her second dose of BNT162b2 SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine. Read More

Cureus 2022 May 5;14(5):e24759. Epub 2022 May 5.

Cardiology, University of South Dakota, Sanford Heart Hospital, Sioux Falls, USA.

The association of complete atrioventricular (AV) block with Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is well known, but the cause-and-effect relationship has not been determined. We present the case of a 91-year-old female with complete AV block who went untreated for over a year and later developed Takotsubo syndrome. Reversal of wall movement defects was seen after a permanent pacemaker was implanted, and routine follow-up showed that the implanted pacemaker worked normally. Read More

Arch Cardiovasc Dis 2022 Apr 20;115(4):235-242. Epub 2022 Apr 20.

Centres for Heart Valve Innovation and for Cardiovascular Innovation, St. Paul's and Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver BC V6E 1M7, Canada; Division of Cardiology, University of British Columbia & St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC V6E 1M7, Canada; Cardiovascular Translational Laboratory, Centre for Heart Lung Innovation, University of British Columbia & St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC V6E 1M7, Canada. Electronic address:

Since the first-in-human procedure in 2002, transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has become a well-established therapeutic option for severe aortic stenosis, and is offered increasingly to patients at lower surgical risk, who are typically younger. Increasing lifespan carries concerns that "minor" complications that may have little impact in elderly patients could have a greater long-term impact in younger patients. Issues such as mild paravalvular regurgitation, hypoattenuated leaflet thickening, atrioventricular block with need for permanent pacemaker implantation or future coronary access may have a substantial cumulative undesirable impact. Read More

Orphanet J Rare Dis 2022 05 7;17(1):183. Epub 2022 May 7.

The First Dongguan Affiliated Hospital, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, 523710, Guangdong Province, China.

Background: Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy/dysplasia (ARVC/D) is associated with ventricular arrhythmia, heart failure (HF), and sudden death. Thromboembolism is also an important and serious complication of ARVC/D. However, the etiology of ARVC/D and thromboembolism and their association with genetic mutations are unclear. Read More

QJM 2022 May 5. Epub 2022 May 5.

Department of Cardiology, St. James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.

J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol 2022 May 4. Epub 2022 May 4.

Department of Cardiology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.

Introduction: Left bundle branch area pacing (LBBAP) maintains electrical and mechanical synchronization of the ventricles. It is a relatively physiological pacing mode, with low and stable pacing threshold and wider indications. LBBAP in children has been rarely reported. Read More

J Cardiothorac Surg 2022 May 3;17(1):101. Epub 2022 May 3.

Department of Medicine, Division of Critical Care, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.

Background: Post-operative atrio-ventricular (AV) block after cardiac surgery is not uncommon in high-risk patients.

Case Presentation: Our case highlights the management of a 62-year-old female with cardiogenic shock post-cardiac surgery with concomitant complete heart block. With VVI pacing proving ineffective, it was postulated that the patient may benefit hemodynamically from AV sequential pacing, re-establishing her atrial kick. Read More

Trends Cardiovasc Med 2022 Apr 30. Epub 2022 Apr 30.

Department of Cardiology, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Phoenix, Arizona, USA.

Cardiac sarcoidosis is an inflammatory myocardial disease of unknown etiology. It is characterized by the deposition of non-caseating granulomas that may involve any part of the heart. Cardiac sarcoidosis is often under-diagnosed or recognized partly due to the heterogeneous clinical presentation of the disease. Read More

Clin Cardiol 2022 May 3. Epub 2022 May 3.

Department of Cardiology, National Clinical Research Center for Interventional Medicine, Shanghai Clinical Research Center for Interventional Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China.

Objectives To Background: To compare electromechanical ventricular synchrony when pacing from different sites, including right ventricular apex pacing (RVAP), right ventricular septum pacing (RVSP), His bundle pacing (HBP), left bundle branch pacing (LBBP), and RVSP during unipolar pacing from the ring electrode of LBBP lead (RVSP ) in each patient and evaluate the correlations between electrophysiological characteristics and ventricular synchrony.

Methods: Twenty patients with complete atrioventricular block indicated for dual-chamber pacemaker implantation were included in the study. Unipolar pacing at different sites, including RVAP, RVSP, HBP, LBBP, and RVSP , was successively performed in each patient. Read More

Heart Rhythm 2022 May;19(5):868-869

Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California.

Heart Rhythm 2022 Apr 26. Epub 2022 Apr 26.

Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Phoenix, Arizona.

This international multidisciplinary document is intended to guide electrophysiologists, cardiologists, other clinicians, and health care professionals in caring for patients with arrhythmic complications of neuromuscular disorders (NMDs). The document presents an overview of arrhythmias in NMDs followed by detailed sections on specific disorders: Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Becker muscular dystrophy, and limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2; myotonic dystrophy type 1 and type 2; Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy and limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 1B; facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy; and mitochondrial myopathies, including Friedreich ataxia and Kearns-Sayre syndrome, with an emphasis on managing arrhythmic cardiac manifestations. End-of-life management of arrhythmias in patients with NMDs is also covered. Read More

J Biochem Mol Toxicol 2022 May 2:e23085. Epub 2022 May 2.

Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.

Propafenone is a well-known Class 1C antiarrhythmic agent that has sodium channel blocking properties as well as the ability to block 13 other channels and a modest calcium antagonistic effect. Propafenone has a profound electrophysiologic effect on auxiliary atrioventricular circuits and in patients with atrioventricular nodal reentry tachycardia can obstruct conduction in the fast conducting pathway. Furthermore, propafenone is less likely than other Class 1C drugs to cause proarrhythmia. Read More

Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd 2022 03 17;166. Epub 2022 Mar 17.

Franciscus Gasthuis & Vlietland, afd. Cardiologie, Rotterdam.

Background: The case gives the reader a valuable insight in pathophysiology and treatment in atrioventricular nodal re-entry tachycardia (AVNRT) and vagal manoeuvres available to treat this phenomenon.

Case Description: A 85-year-old woman with a medical history of heart failure and aortic valve stenosis presents herself on the Emergency Department with cardiac shock and cardiac asthma. The ECG showed an AVNRT with 170 beats per minute (bpm) and a left bundle branch block (LBBB). Read More